More people having reunion dinners at restaurants
By Patwant Singh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 13 February 2010 2154 hrs
By Patwant Singh, Channel NewsAsia | Posted: 13 February 2010 2154 hrs
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SINGAPORE : It is the eve of the Lunar New Year and it is traditionally the day for reunion dinners at home.
But this year, with the economy picking up, more people in Singapore are going to restaurants for their reunion dinner.
Outlets MediaCorp spoke to said business is up by some 20 per cent and customers are ordering expensive dishes.
Some establishments have also created special dishes.
Beyond food, extras like traditional opera performances during the "lo-hei" are also being offered.
One restaurant manager said orders started coming in a month earlier, and the restaurant had to increase manpower to man the phone lines.
Over at the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), the timing of dialysis sessions was changed so that patients can be home in time for the all-important meal.
The start times were shifted from 7am to 2am so that the last patient can finish the session by late evening.
NKF staff were also not forgotten, with a special dinner arranged for its 40 nurses from China.
The nurses chipped in with preparations, making their own dumplings - a signature dish during reunion dinners.
And with Chinatown being the centre of activities this Lunar New Year, the public is advised not to drive to the area.
That is because of the road closures there.
The best option is to take public transport.
- CNA/ms
- wong chee tat :)
